Supreme HQ Allied Expeditionary Force (March 8, 1945)
FROM
(A) SHAEF MAIN
ORIGINATOR
PRD, Communique Section
DATE-TIME OF ORIGIN
081100A March
TO FOR ACTION
(1) AGWAR
(2) NAVY DEPARTMENT
TO (W) FOR INFORMATION (INFO)
(3) TAC HQ 12 ARMY GP
(4) MAIN 12 ARMY GP
(5) AIR STAFF
(6) ANCXF
(7) EXFOR MAIN
(8) EXFOR REAR
(9) DEFENSOR, OTTAWA
(10) CANADIAN C/S, OTTAWA
(11) WAR OFFICE
(12) ADMIRALTY
(13) AIR MINISTRY
(14) UNITED KINGDOM BASE
(15) SACSEA
(16) CMHQ (Pass to RCAF & RCN)
(17) COM ZONE
(18) SHAEF REAR
(19) SHAEF MAIN
(20) PRO, ROME
(21) HQ SIXTH ARMY GP
(REF NO.)
NONE
(CLASSIFICATION)
IN THE CLEAR
Communiqué No. 334
UNCLASSIFIED: Allied forces are still meeting fierce resistance in the approaches to Xanten. We have advanced to the outskirts of Veen where heavy fighting continues. Bönninghardt has been occupied and farther east our units are fighting in Ossenberg. The west bank of the Rhine River has now been cleared between Rheinberg and Orsoy.
Enemy troop concentrations west of Wesel, and barges in the Rheinberg area were attacked by fighter-bombers.
South of Düsseldorf we have captured Zons.
In Cologne, our units continued to mop up sporadic resistance in the southeast section of the city.
South of Cologne we cleared Rondorf, Immendorf, Meschenich and Fischenich, and reached Brühl.
Northwest of Bonn, we have reached Brenig, and have captured Bornheim and Botzdorf.
Southeast of Euskirchen we occupied Rheinbach, Schweinheim and Kirchheim and are fighting in the Flamersheim Forest.
East of Schleiden we occupied Kall, Keldenich and Sötenich.
East of Prüm, we have captured Bolsdorf, Dohm, Gerolstein and Pelm, and our armor pushing more than 11 miles northeast of Pelm has captured Hinterweiler, Dreis and Boxberg.
Another armored unit has reached the Rhine in the area north of Koblenz after overrunning a number of towns including Üdersdorf, Schönbach and Monreal. Infantry units are mopping up behind the armored thrust.
Southeast of Bitburg we have captured Binsfeld and Herforst.
Northeast of Trier we have cleared quint, Ehrang and Mertesdorf.
In our Saar bridgehead we repulsed five counterattacks.
We met continued stubborn resistance in the Forbach area. The sector farther west and along the Rhine was quiet.
Allied forces in the west captured 6,467 prisoners 6 March.
A railroad viaduct near Bielefeld, marshalling yards at Bielefeld, Soest, Siegen, and Giessen, the Castrop-Rauxel benzol plant, the Harpen refinery and two other benzol plants in the Dortmund area were attacked by escorted heavy bombers in great strength.
Rail lines and traffic north of the Ruhr were attacked by fighter-bombers.
Four enemy aircraft were shot down. One of our heavy bombers and two fighters are missing.
Last night, heavy bombers were over Germany in very great strength with Dessau and oil refineries at Harburg, near Hamburg, and Heide in Schleswig-Holstein, as the main objectives. Targets in Berlin were bombed by light bombers.
COORDINATED WITH: G-2, G-3 to C/S
THIS MESSAGE MAY BE SENT IN CLEAR BY ANY MEANS
/s/
Precedence
“OP” - AGWAR
“P” - Others
ORIGINATING DIVISION
PRD, Communique Section
NAME AND RANK TYPED. TEL. NO.
D. R. JORDAN, Lt Col FA4655
AUTHENTICATING SIGNATURE
/s/
